SOUTH Gloucestershire Council is changing its plans for off-street parking charges to be introduced from next year.
The council says the changes were made after what it described as “helpful engagement” with town and parish councils, chambers of commerce and other “key stakeholders”.
The main changes are in the proposed charges for short-stay car parks.
The charge for an hour will stay at 70p, but the charge for two hours will be £1.30 instead of £1.50, three hours will cost £3 instead of £3.50 and up to four hours will cost £5 instead of £4.50.
There will still be free 30-minute stays in “at least 10 per cent” of short stay car park spaces.
Proposed long stay charges are also being changed, with a new £4 rate for stays of between four and six hours and a £5 charge for stays of more than six hours. Previously the proposed rates were £6 for between four and eight hours, and £9 for a day. The lowest long stay charge of £3 for up to four hours is unchanged.
But the authority has not changed its plans to make the Byron Place car park, opposite the Tesco Metro store off Broad Street in Staple Hill, and the main Page Road car park near Soundwell Road long stay car parks.
Both currently have short stay limits.
The council has reduced proposed season ticket charges for long-stay parking to £20 for a week (from £24) £75 a month (from £90) and £840 a year (from £1,008). A new six-monthly ticket option for £435 is also being proposed.
It has also said holders of disabled parking Blue Badges will be able to park free for up to four hours in any space in any car park, providing their badge is displayed.